# Hydrogen ameliorates pulmonary hypertension in rats by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
> 水素による肺動脈性肺高血圧症の改善：ラットモデルにおける抗炎症・抗酸化メカニズムの検討


## Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves reactive oxygen species and inflammatory processes in its pathogenesis. This study examined the effects of hydrogen-saturated water in a monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: MCT plus hydrogen-saturated water, MCT plus dehydrogenized water, and saline plus dehydrogenized water. Hemodynamic assessment and morphometric pulmonary vascular analysis were performed 16 days after substance administration. Compared with the MCT-only group, hydrogen-treated animals showed significantly reduced pulmonary arterial pressure, preserved vascular density, decreased adventitial macrophage accumulation, lower 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine-positive cell counts, and reduced expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Phosphorylated STAT3 and NFAT expression levels were also markedly lower in the hydrogen group. These findings indicate that hydrogen-rich water intake attenuates MCT-induced PAH through suppression of oxidative stress, macrophage infiltration, and modulation of the STAT3/NFAT signaling axis.

### Mechanism

Hydrogen-rich water intake suppressed macrophage accumulation in the pulmonary adventitia, reduced oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG), and downregulated phosphorylated STAT3 and NFAT expression, collectively attenuating MCT-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Kishimoto Y, Kato T, Ito M, Azuma Y, Fukasawa Y, Ohno K, et al.
- **Journal**: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
- **Year**: 2015
- **PMID**: [26095621](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26095621/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.05.052](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.05.052)
- **Study type**: animal study
- **Delivery route**: hydrogen-rich water
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

See also:
- [Inhalation concentration and LFL / UFL](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/inhalation-concentration)
- [Consumer Affairs Agency accident cases](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/accident-cases)
- [Inhalation safety threshold lineage](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/lineage)

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> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 26095621. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/26095621
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [26095621](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26095621/)